ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 30: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 30, 2014 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

BEREA, Ohio — Johnny Manziel should come with a warning sticker: Watching can be hazardous to your health.

Today, the NFL will get its first extended look at Manziel, who routinely turned broken plays into touchdowns at Texas A&M and will now try to rescue the Cleveland Browns’ wilting playoff hopes.

As he prepares Manziel for his first career start, Cleveland offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said he’s not sure what to expect from the cocksure rookie quarterback when Browns (7-6) faces the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1) in a must-win game.

Once Shanahan sends a well-designed play in from the sideline, there’s no telling what Manziel might do with it after the ball’s snapped.

“We call a pass play, and he’s going to do six spins reversing back and forth outside the pocket,” Shanahan said. “I’m going to hold my breath be yelling half the time, and then probably be running and jumping on top of him excited at the end of it. Who knows what will happen. I think that’s why everyone enjoys watching him, and that’s why I’m excited to see what he does. It’ll be fun.”

The Browns need more than entertainment out of Manziel. They need him to take care of the ball, make good decisions and inject some energy into to Cleveland’s lifeless offense. Manziel may be the 21st quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, but the team is discarding its sordid history at the position to see what the 22-year-old can do.

Manziel said the pro version of Johnny Football is new.

“I don’t think you’re going to see the Johnny that you saw at Texas A&M because this isn’t Texas A&M,” he said. “This is a different point in my life. I’m a different person than I was.”

Cleveland has tapered its offense to suit Manziel, who came off the bench for deposed starter Brian Hoyer two weeks ago at Buffalo and flashed some of his Johnny Football magic by tucking the ball away, recognizing a lane many quarterbacks wouldn’t have seen and darting to the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown run.

With a week to install plays to best use Manziel’s arm and legs, the Browns hope to keep the Bengals off balance. But the bigger issue may be getting Manziel to understand that he doesn’t have to transform every play into a TV highlight.

Browns coach Mike Pettine doesn’t want to put a collar on Manziel, but he doesn’t want him running wild.

“It’s going to be more within the structure of our offense, but at the same time, if you have a guy that has a unique skillset, you don’t want to quell that either,” he said. “You want to allow him to do it, but you’ve got to be able to pick and choose your times to do it.”

The Browns don’t have any allusions that Manziel will be able to run around and do what he did while winning a Heisman Trophy. They’re going to let Johnny be Johnny and hope that it’s good enough.

“He’s tried to develop in every facet, but when that ball snaps, I don’t want him thinking about coaching points,” Shanahan said. “I don’t want him thinking about how the play is supposed to be. I want him reacting, and hopefully when someone is open, he reacts and lets it rip. Hopefully when someone’s not, he reacts and does his deal. You just don’t want to take that away from him.”

For all the adulation and attention Manziel receives, he gets almost equal doses of negativity, some of it in the form of taunts and hard tackles.

Since college, he’s been a marked man, and it’s no different in the NFL.

“I welcome it,” said Manziel, who got a rude awakening to the pros by the Washington Redskins — in which he flipped his middle finger toward the sideline — during a preseason game. “I accept that, and I’ve been a guy that’s had a lot of hate spewed towards me.

“I’m in a different place now. It’s not like it was in preseason. I have to have a lot better control of everything. I’m under a lot more control than I was then, and I know I have a lot better control of my emotions.”

The Bengals have already taken a swipe at Manziel as Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis called the 6-footer “a midget” this week. Lewis has since apologized several times, but his barb may be indicative of a general feeling about the hyped rookie around the rest of the league.

“Everybody’s gunning for him,” Pettine said. “I guarantee everybody that sacks him is going to stand over him and make the money sign,” Pettine said. “That comes with it.”

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